True Radical Honesty From Our Community

Facial toner is the most underrated skincare product around. But it can transform a 'meh' complexion to the most radiant skin of your life.

Everyone’s skincare routine is different. Your skin type, lifestyle, available funds and dedication to the cause all play their part in how much (or, of course, how little) attention you pay to your skin. However, one thing is clear. No matter how much of a skin afficionado you are, and how many serums are stacked on your bathroom shelves, you still might not use a facial toner on a regular basis. 

And that’s a real shame.

You see, today’s toners are a far cry from those alcohol-laden, redness-causing, eye-watering liquids you might have doused over your teenage skin back in the ‘80s. They’re now more sophisticated than ever, combining new technologies with advanced ingredients to offer all manner of game-changing benefits to your face – whatever your skin type. 

Here’s what we know…

What Is Toner, Exactly?

Facial toners bridge the gap between cleansing and treatment products. They’re liquid, water-based formulations and are usually applied with a cotton pad or spritzed straight onto the skin post-cleansing. What’s the point, we hear you ask? Well, their main job is to soak up any excess oils, dead skin cells or debris left over after cleansing. This not only helps to keep your pores clean and clear, but removing these barriers prepares your skin to fully take on the incredible ingredients in the rest of your routine.

But that’s not all. Depending on their contents, a well-formulated toner can also balance your skin’s pH while hydrating, brightening, nourishing and protecting the barrier function. Some even contain hydroxy acids to help encourage healthier cell turnover and improve the tone and texture of your skin. Oh hi there 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant.

More than the sum of their parts, toners really can turbocharge your routine to give you a much healthier-looking glow. But before we delve into some of the benefits of a well-crafted facial toner, let’s take a look at some common misconceptions…

Common Toner Myths: Debunked

The Myth: Facial Toners Dry Out The Skin

The Truth: Synthetic fragrance and harsh alcohols like isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol (sometimes listed as alcohol denat) are the main offenders here, but most modern day toners avoid these. In fact, some even contain hydrating ingredients like rose water and hyaluronic acid to actually help reduce dryness. Who knew?

The Myth: Toners Are Really Only For Oily Skin Types

The Truth: Like all skincare formulations, there’s a toner out there for any skin type. You just need to look at the labels, read the descriptions, check out the ingredients listings and then make informed decisions to help find the perfect one to suit your skin’s specific needs.

The Myth: Facial Toner Is Just Fancy Water With A Big Price Tag

The Truth: Sure, toners contain a good amount of water, and yes, their consistency may feel thin and watery but quality toners, crafted by reputable skincare manufacturers like yours truly, contain all manner of effective active ingredients that offer visible benefits to your skin. So there.

The Myth: If You Tone You Don’t Need To Cleanse

The Truth: Toners can help lift traces of dirt, sebum, makeup and cleanser from the surface of your skin but, unlike cleansing products, they don’t contain emulsifiers which are designed to actually clean and break down stubborn debris. The fact is, toner cannot replace cleanser. And vice versa.

Game-Changing Benefits Of A Facial Toner

Toners have a lot to offer, boosting the efficacy of your entire skincare routine while significantly improving the look and feel of your skin. To follow, some of the different ways a toner can benefit your complexion.

1. pH Balancing

Everyday cleansing can disrupt your skin’s natural pH levels leaving it feeling and looking totally out of sorts. The happy place for your skin is around 5.5 on the pH scale which is slightly acidic to help prevent infection and dehydration. Cleansers, however, typically have a higher alkaline pH which can temporarily unbalance the skin, disturbing the barrier function and causing the sebaceous glands to overcompensate.

The good news is that gentle, hydrating toners – ones that avoid drying alcohol – step in to restore harmony quickly and effortlessly. 

2. Hydrating & Nourishing

Speaking of hydrating the skin, facial toners can be hydration powerhouses which makes them ideal for dull, dehydrated skin. 

Toners are composed mainly of water which, when combined with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, delivers a massive rush of moisture to the skin, plumping up the cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and treating you to that coveted glassy glow you thought was the stuff of dreams.

3. Pore Minimizing

Enlarged pores can be a total pain so it’s vital to keep them clean and clear to minimize their appearance.

As a quick refresh, pores are microscopic openings found at the surface of your skin right at the top of your hair follicles where oil is produced and released to moisturize and lubricate the skin. 

Full disclosure, it’s physically impossible to shrink your pores. However, you can absolutely improve their visible appearance. How so? By keeping them free of oil and debris which can cause their walls to stretch and expand. As previously mentioned, toners are literally made for removing traces of debris left over after cleansing. And formulas that contain ingredients like witch hazel or salicylic acid? Even better for detoxifying those pores and tightening the skin.

Try our Ocean Minerals Super Toner.

4. Brightening

All the makeup in the world can’t make up (no pun intended) for a skin-brightening skincare routine. Ingredients like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a derivative of vitamin C), retinol, glycolic acid, licorice extract and MSM put a lot of effort into improving the glow factor of your skin. 

Chemical exfoliators, in particular, are incredible for adding radiance to an otherwise drab complexion, and toning is one of the most effective ways to up your quota of chemical exfoliators. Our 6% AHA, BHA + PHA Liquid Exfoliant, for example, contains a harmonized blend of glycolic acid (the AHA), salicylic acid (the BHA) and gluconolactone (the PHA) to remove dead skin cells, accelerate skin turnover and reveal smoother, clearer, glowier skin. 

5. Protecting

A great toner will always contain an antioxidant or two. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide and green tea work hard to neutralize free radicals. This helps to shield your skin from environmental bad boys like UV radiation and pollution. 

The truth is, antioxidants are an essential part of an effective skincare routine and, when coupled with broad-spectrum sunscreen are the best way to protect your skin from premature aging.

Seems like a no brainer to us.